Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-27
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
What Mrs. Carlisle Has TO say About
La L.Hr


Its Changes of Tone.
NEW YORK, March Exchanges in the
tone of Washington societyy' said Mrs.
Speaker Carlisle, as she sat in the parlor
of the Gilsey House. Mrs. Carlisle Is
pleasant looking LADY who in heryouth was
handsome, but her face begins to bear the
marks of years, ill-health, the anxiety of
political and the strain of social life. She
is well formed, unusually tall, and mas
small, finely shaped head, crowned by
light reddish-brown hair, and her voice
ie that unusual thing among American
WOMEN lOw-toned and pleasant. "Really,"
she went on, II DO not think there has
been much change during the ten years |
have lived there. The personnel of society
changes more or less every four years and
slightly every two years. And OF course
the incoming of a Democratic admins
tration made a decided difference among
the people who are in the front, But
don't think there has been much change
in the tone and purpose Of society there
since l have known it,"
''Then you do not think it has acquired
@ little more literary or intellectual flavor
in the last few yesrsw
eyes, / believe 1t has turned a little
more in that direction during the last
year. But l have been out of society
entirely this winter on account of my
health, and go cannot speak decisively on
that point!p
"Whst do you think has been the
causeH
"Oh, there hasn't been any immediate
cause. People just got tried of the old
rfts and turned TO literary matters fer
something new. Another respect IN which
the personnel OF Washington society is
changing Is that so many society people
from other cities go there now to spend
the winter. This element has grown quite
large and is increasing. But they simply
fall in with the ordinary society life of the
city and do not attempt to change its
general character"
"People who have never lived in Wash
ington generally think there is less in it's
society life than In that Of any other city
in the country"
Sand my opinion is that they are about
right" and Mrs. Carlisle laughed pleas
antly. ''0f course those who live there
q long time form manv warm friendships,
but society Is 30 large and social duties
are so many that there isn't time tor
much else. The returning of calls
alone is large tax upon ones time.
Last year, for instance, I made 1900
visits"
"Isn't 1t very wearingY'
"No. All that is necessary 10 to re-
member the reception days Of different
ladies. look In and say How do you doY
and Goodbye That is all that is ex-
pectsd."
"Do you think that this increase of
the social circle OF which you speak
will cause its breaking up into different
setsp'
"Yes, think it will. The lines have
always been drawn pretty closely be-
tween the citizens and the officials. The
citizens are the representatives of the old
Southern families, and they mingle but
very Little in official society. Occasion
ally family from the official set visits
them and receives them into the citizens
circle. But generally the lines are kept
close"
s'And each set thinks itself little better
than the otherf'
"No, l hardly think so. On the con-
trary, the officials think it quite a compli-
ment, as they we'll may, when they are
received by the citizens. But Official So
ciety is getting so large and unwieldy
that think it will undou btedly be broken
up into sets before long. The Cabinet
ladies have heretofore made visits, but
now they make none except with the SEN
ators, Supreme Court judges aud dlplo-
mats, and think it probable that other
members OF official life will before long
have to tax up the same rule, and per-
haps, the rule Will have to be made even
stficter than this, so that the only
social duties of those who come under its
operation will be to receive. They can
not be required 10 make visits much
longer. FRANCIS FINCH KELLEY.